Originally posted by fizzbob7
an alternative, but here are the downsides
1) will cost as much or more than a full h22a swap unless you have both engines already sitting
yeah, right. H22 heads normally arent sold for $2000+. i did this for under $1000, including forged pistons.
2) not nearly as reliable
another farce. if it werent reliable, there wouldnt have been an H23 VTEC made available in the 1998-2000 Honda Accord Wagon in Japan.
3) to take advantage of the h22 head, the h23 block will need oil squirters machined in, which means a lot of work...without, the h23 block will overheat and eventually something will give at higher rpm......h22 block has these oil squirters to cool the piston/rod
you dont "need" the oil squirters. it's merely a safety precaution. second, the H22 squirters fit in with no machining. why do people keep thinking the H23 block is physically different than the H22 block? they're the same block. if you had experience with this swap, you'd know this.
4) you'll end up making a LITTLE more tq and the same or slightly more power.....i've heard that torque will be a lot better, but compare it to an h22a with intake/exhaust and you've got no advantages for a lot more work.....i'd never consider this
i have personally done this swap. even with 8.8:1 compression it walks on H22 equipped Preludes with proper cams to take adavantage of the extra displacement. there is no more work to this swap than swapping a headgasket and timing belt. like i said, if you had done this, you would know.
for anyone interested in knowing the truth from someon who has actually done this swap, here's the parts list and procedures for completing a successful H23 VTEC.
http://home.comcast.net/~mlokubo/h23vtec.htm